Outrage After Beloved Emotional Support Alligator 'Wally' Stolen and Dumped In Swamp
Wally, the beloved emotional support alligator from Philadelphia, was stolen while on vacation in Georgia on April 21. According to Wally's owner, Wally was stolen from his pen as a prank and dumped in someone's yard, and then the state department of natural resources got a trapper who captured Wally and released him into a swamp with fellow alligators.
Wally hasn't been located yet.
The WallyGator Facebook page released this update three days ago.
The Gator Boys (Which is said to be one of Wally's favorite TV shows to watch) have volunteered to try and help recover Wally, but as of Monday, April 29, 2024, they were still gathering info to track down Wally's exact location, according to NBCPhiladelphia.
Related: Baseball Fan and 5-Foot Emotional Support Alligator Denied Entry to Philadelphia Ballpark
Why Wally Shouldn't Be In The Wild
Wally isn't really a normal wild alligator with a lot of survival skills. He took naps with his dad and ate Cheetos and chicken legs. He's not a wild animal. He's a pet, and you can't expect Wally to survive in a swamp as much as you'd expect a Golden Retriever to be able to survive in a swamp.
Leaving him in the swamp is not only cruel and inhumane to Wally, it's basically a death sentence. He could fall prey to a larger gator or starve to death.
Wally visits schools and senior centers. He loves to watch The Lion King and is terrified of cats. The fact that he was released into a swamp is just heartbreaking.
I'm not a big fan of any person keeping a wild animal as a pet, but in this case what's done is done. Henney obviously loves Wally, cares a lot about his needs, and knows how to take care of him. It would be one thing had the game trapper relocated Wally to an area and see how he would fare in the wild and then make his decision, but to just dump him in the swamp and expect him to care for himself makes no sense. I really hope he gets home soon. My heart is broken for Henney.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help bring Wally home. The page reads, "We are fundraising for Joie Henney to help with costs related to Wally being stolen. Joie is actively searching for WallyGator who was stolen from his enclosure while on vacation in Georgia. Funds raised will help cover travel costs, advising costs and possible legal and veterinary costs." At time of publication $6,000 of the $30,000 costs have been raised.
If you are interested in donating, the GoFundMe link is here.
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